Gkustaf l



G. L. FISK.

mnuoo or TREATING METAL.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 9. l9l6.

Patented Aug. 5, 1919.

PATENT clarion.

GUSTAF L. FISK, OF HARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

METHOD OF TREATING METAL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 5, 19119..

Application filed May 9, 1916. Serial No. 96,271.

To all whom it may concern:

e it known that I, GUSTAF L, FISK, a subject of the King of Sweden, and resident of Harrisburg, in the county of Dauphin and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Methods of Treating Metal; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

y invention relates to a process of making steel and is particularly concerned with a combined method of making steel by which heating and preliminary refining of metal is accomplished by introducing air into the metal from above by means of a device separate from the vessel containing the metal and by which method the metal is then finished into steel in any ordinary steel-making furnace.

The method is chiefly intended as a substitute for the so-called duplex process of making steel, by which process the iron is first desiliconized and decarbonized in a converter, either acid or basic, and is then finished into steel in an open hearth furnace,

either acid or basic. The object of tho method is to make possible the use of a plain vessel or container or so-called ladle for holding the metal during the procedure of desiliconizing and decarbonizing, thus reducing the handling of the metal and the amount of equipment necessary. Further more, by introducing the air from above, the metallic loss v. is reduced by, reducing the splash and spray of metal attending the use of converters. The achievement of the above objects results in a reduced cost of the steel product.

In practising my improved method the only equipment necessary beside an ordinary steel furnace and a suitable formof blast apparatus or device for introducing the air into the metal, is a vessel to hold the metal; preferably a plain ladle lined with refractory material, acid or basic, as may be required by the nature of the iron, which ladle may be suitably mounted on a car to facilitate transportation. With the above objects in view, the invention consists in the improved method which may be practised by aid of a suitable form of apparatus, a,

preferred form of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of the air blast apparatus and ladle; Fig. 2 is a detail sectional view of the junction of the blast apparatus with the air blast and the blast head elevating pressure supply; Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 33, Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line 4-4, Fig. 1;

lg. 5 is a sectional view on the line 55, Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is a fragmentary plan view showing one of the blast nozzles; and Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view of F ig. G.

In the form of apparatus here utilized in practising my method, 1 indicates a container or ladle which may be carried upon a suitable truck indicated at The ladle is filled with the molten metal in the usual manner to the level 3. The blast head and cooperating parts may be of various desired constructions, but as here shown, consists of a blast head at proper, which is formed of sheet metal, or may be cast as desired. This ead consists of the tapering inlet body portion 5 and a metallic cap 6 bolted thereto by means of bolts 7. The metallic head is thoroughly surrounded for protection by a casing of refractory material. This casing consists of a main body portion 8 substantially circular in form, but partially cut away at intervals around its periphery as at 9 to lighten it. This portion of the casmg, in this case shown to be made up of six bricks, is preferably fastened to the blast head 4 by means of bolts 10 and 10 which bolts are protected by plastic material 11 and 11 Within this refractory covering 8 are mounted a plurality of perforated nozzles 8 provided with perforations 8 which conduct the air from the blast head 4 to the bath. The periphery of the blast head is surrounded by an annular ring 12 of refractory material, and in order to protect the metallic blast head thoroughly from the effects of the heat, a second ring of refractory material 13 is mounted in any desired way, as upon an annular ring 14 resting upon the upper side of the blast head t. The blast head 4 is bolted or otherwise secured to a cylinder 15. This cylinder at its upper end is provided with astufling-box 16, by which it is joined to and telescoped upon a stationary blast tube 17. Moreover, the upper end of the cylinder 15 is provided with lugs 18 for the reception of riser and guide rods 19, the upper ends of which are secured to a spider or frame 20, as shown in Fig. 1. These riser rods 19 pass up through a casting or frame-work 21, which frame-work is joined to a second or upper frame 22 by means of cylinders or tubes 23.

The guide frames 21 and 22 may be suitably supported upon I-beams 24. As indicated in Fig. 3, there are preferably three of these riser rOds 19. The frames 21 and 22 are also united by a centralpressure cylinder 25 in which operates .a plunger 26, which is secured to the spider or frame 20.

overcome the weight of and raise the plunger 26, riser frame 20, riser rods 19, and cylinder 15 together with the blast head, and hold the same in elevated position. In this position, the blast head may be brought over the ladle or pot, the metal in which is to be treated.

It is to be noted, however, that the air blast conveyed to the blast head 4 by the pipe 28 and cylinder 15 will create a pressure in the blast head which, in addition to the weight of the lunger 26, riser frame 20, riser rods 19, cy inder 15 and the blast head, will serve to overcome the pressure of the riser fluid, and will lower the blast head and depress the blast into the metal bath when.

the air blast is turned on.

As soon as the desired quantity of air has -been conveyed to the metal bath, the air blast may be turned off whereupon the fluid pressure in the plunger cylinder 25 will act 25. The, fluid pressure thus.

to raise the plunger and through its connections with the blast head cylinder 15, raise the blast headfrom or out of the bath so that the ladle car may be moved on to give place to another ladle; or, on the other hand, the blast apparatus may be moved into position over the second ladle.

While I have described a fluid pressure for elevating the blast head, it is to be understood that the same function may be performed by-means of compressed air or any othernpressure medium or that the blast'head may be elevated by counterweights or other like apparatus attached thereto.

While I have herein described a particular and preferred apparatusfor carrying out my improved method, itis to be understood that the same may be altered within the scope of the appended claims. I

What I claim is: r

1. The process of making steel which consistsin the heating and preliminary refining of the metal in the container in which the unrefined metal is taken to the steel furnace for finishing into steel.

2. The process of making steel which consists in the heating and preliminary refining of the metal in the container in which the unrefined metal is taken to the steel furnace for finishing into steel by subjecting the metal in transfer to an air blast delivered from above and independent of said container.

In testimony whereof, I the said GUSTAF L. FISK, have hereunto set my hand.

. GrUSllAF L. FISK. Witnesses:

C. F. GENNEYER, R. D. Goon. 

